Delta College’s Passport to College Open House set for Saturday, April 30

San Joaquin Delta College will celebrate its Passport to College program with an open house on Saturday, April 30th, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The daylong event, “Passport to Launching Your Future” will feature campus tours and over 300 workshops! All Delta College District ninth graders are welcome to attend!

Delta College’s Passport to College program is a unique community, business and education partnership created in 2006-07 as an early intervention program for all fifth grade students in Delta’s district. Passport to College offered all 10,000 of those fifth graders two years of free tuition at Delta College, contingent on this agreement: Stay in school and graduate high school.

7000 students signed the Passport agreement.

The Passport to College program is designed to make a significant impact on the fact that San Joaquin County resides in the lowest quartile for state high school graduation and college going rates. County workers earn half the state average income and have twice the state average unemployment rate. In addition, Stockton is at the bottom of the list of metropolitan cities for literacy rates.

Delta’s Passport to College students are now ninth graders. “Passport to Launching Your Future” aims to re-energize and excite these students about what career opportunities are possible," says Delta College’s Director of Special Programs, Diana Slawson. “The open house will introduce students to more than 100 Delta College programs and certifications. The goal is to inspire students with glimpses of what’s possible for their future.”

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a “Welcome Session” at Atherton Auditorium. NASA Research Scientist, Ruben Ramos, will be the keynote speaker. Mr. Ramos worked on many high-profile NASA projects, including: Project Engineer on the Pioneer Venus project; Communications Systems Engineer for the Jupiter, Saturn and Venus Exploration Projects and Science Payload Manager on a project to establish a multi-lander environmental monitoring system on Mars. Mr. Ramos will present workshops throughout the day to discuss methods for exploring other planets. His presentations will include models of proposed interplanetary spaceships. The Welcome Session will also feature Delta’s new Superintendent/President, Dr. Jeff Marsee.

The day-long event will feature more than 300 workshops, program open houses, and demonstrations. Here’s a sampling:

Attendees may view the sun through solar telescopes; see a star show at the Clever Planetarium; learn about robotics and electron microscopy; watch a chemistry magic show; meet a green technology inventor and see his inventions. In addition, learn TV/Radio/Media skills; see how video games and animations are created. Meet policemen, paramedics, firemen and tour the Nursing Lab. Want to work on your writing skills? Then attend workshops on how to write the best college entrance essay, and then learn what skills you need to be a successful student. Athletes…meet Delta’s coaches and learn how to be a successful college student/athlete; take part in a soccer demonstration. Military recruiters will also be on-hand. “Passport to Launching Your Future” will offer a full plate of activities each hour!

Future students will also have the opportunity to meet with Delta staff and students: Admissions, Financial Aid, Counseling, Tutoring, College Early Start and Kids College staff will be readily available.

Diana Slawson emphasizes, “We believe that if you free the child’s potential, you will transform the world!”

The event program for “Passport to Launching Your Future” is posted on the Delta College website at: www.deltacollege.edu.

Lodi's Davis Elementary School fifth graders sign the Passport to College "Stay in School" agreement in this photo from March, 2006.

(2011) McNair High of Stockton Passport to College ninth graders jump for joy!

(2011) These Passport students from Lodi's Tokay High posed for a publicity photo!